Not eating.

[JessG]

Cage Info:
Cage Type - What kind of cage are you using? What is the size?
All screen cage. 18x18x36 I believe. It’s a temporary cage until he is big enough for his forever cage.
Lighting - What kind of lighting are you using? How long do you keep the lights on during the day?
Basking bulb is a 40w house bulb.
5.0 linear zoomed? Bulb.
Temperature - What temperature range have you created? Basking spot temp? What is the temperature at night?
Basking spot is 80s. Ambient is 70s. Night temperature is about 65.
Humidity - What are your humidity levels? How are you creating and maintaining these levels?
I have yet to get a hydrometer so no idea. He has a dripper all day. I mist about 4-5 times a day. For a few minutes.
Plants - Are you using live plants? If so, what kind?
Pothos for now. Cage is too small for any other plant.
Location - Where is your cage located? Is it near any fans, air vents, or high traffic areas?
Living room. Not near any fans or vents. And it’s low traffic.

Chameleon Info:
Your Chameleon - The species, sex, and age of your chameleon.
Male Ambilobe. 4-5 months.

Feeding - What are you feeding your cham? What amount? What kind of schedule? How are you gut-loading your feeders?
Crickets. Morning/Afternoon. Crickets are gutloaded with fresh fruit/veggies.

Supplements - What are you dusting your feeders with and what kind of schedule do you use?
Calcium without D3 every feed. Calcium with D3 twice a month, and same for vitamin.

Watering - What kind of watering technique do you use? Do you see your chameleon drinking?
Dripper/Misting. No issues with drinking. I see him drink quite a bit.

Fecal Description - Briefly note colors and consistency from recent droppings.
Dark coloured stool. White urates.
History - Any previous information about your cham that might be useful to others when trying to help you.
N/A
Current Problem - The current problem that you are concerned about.
He is not eating. I’ve tried free roaming crickets. Cup feeding and hand feeding. Nothing. I have only had him since Tuesday. I was hoping it’s just him getting used to his new home. He seems very active. Always climbing around cage, and drinking. His not eating is worrying me a little. As my last chameleon ate the first day I had her. He seems to just stare at the crickets. I’ve tried super worms. And butter worms. And he still has no interest.

 

[chameleonneeds]

Did you get a new chameleon from the breeder who sold you the one with the missing toes and damaged tail? Is this the same chameleon?

Looks like your husbandry is good. Posting some pictures of him and his cage is a good idea. I'm not sure what could be wrong but maybe try some different feeder such as roaches. Try get a small amount of a few different species. I've had young Panthers that wouldn't eat crickets and only ate dubia roaches. They didn't want to try any other roaches. They eventually tried crickets about 3 months after eating just dubias.

Although it could be that he is still settling in..

 

[JessG]

Did you get a new chameleon from the breeder who sold you the one with the missing toes and damaged tail? Is this the same chameleon?

Looks like your husbandry is good. Posting some pictures of him and his cage is a good idea. I'm not sure what could be wrong but maybe try some different feeder such as roaches. Try get a small amount of a few different species. I've had young Panthers that wouldn't eat crickets and only ate dubia roaches. They didn't want to try any other roaches. They eventually tried crickets about 3 months after eating just dubias.

Although it could be that he is still settling in..

Yes. He sent me a new one. He ate the first day I had him. Although today I threw in a few crickets. And I can only find 2 of them in the cage. I was thinking of buying roaches, but they aren’t available where I am from. And all the worms I’ve tried. None of my chams want to try them!! Lol

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

 

[JessG]

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

He’s drinking quite a bit. I’ve been using a syringe and dropping water droplets on his chin area and he’s been gulping them up

 

[JessG]

It’s weird. He seem

Did you get a new chameleon from the breeder who sold you the one with the missing toes and damaged tail? Is this the same chameleon?

Looks like your husbandry is good. Posting some pictures of him and his cage is a good idea. I'm not sure what could be wrong but maybe try some different feeder such as roaches. Try get a small amount of a few different species. I've had young Panthers that wouldn't eat crickets and only ate dubia roaches. They didn't want to try any other roaches. They eventually tried crickets about 3 months after eating just dubias.

Although it could be that he is still settling in..

I will take some pictures of his cage. And try to get some of him, since he’s always moving. And I don’t really want to handle him to cause more stress (if that’s the reason for his not eating)

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

Their hydration needs usually exceed our human capacity to stand there with a dropper dripping water in their mouthes. Through the years I have learned that chameleonshe who are very well hydrated and have good drinking habits hardly ever lose their appetite!

 

[JessG]

Their hydration needs usually exceed our human capacity to stand there with a dropper dripping water in their mouthes. Through the years I have learned that chameleonshe who are very well hydrated and have good drinking habits hardly ever lose their appetite!

I have a dripper going all day. Maybe I’ll up his mistings or make them longer. Do you think a shower would help with hydration

 

[Curlytails]

He’s drinking quite a bit. I’ve been using a syringe and dropping water droplets on his chin area and he’s been gulping them up

hydration and tough love usually does it. add some crickets with a food source so they dont devour your lil guy and he should eat them. chameleons wont starve themselves to death if there is a food source. dont feel bad and add other types of feeders too. they will eat the treats and will go off their staple. this happened to me a month ago and the guys on the forum told me to do this and it really helps.

 

[JessG]

 

[Curlytails]

View attachment 206128 View attachment 206129

good amount of foliage but you may want to use a linear bulb. the cfl bulbs have been known to cause eye problems. did you buy the zoo med kit?

 

[JessG]

good amount of foliage but you may want to use a linear bulb. the cfl bulbs have been known to cause eye problems. did you buy the zoo med kit?

I have one. Just have not set it up just yet. I feel like it would be too big for this little cage?

 

[Curlytails]

I have one. Just have not set it up just yet. I feel like it would be too big for this little cage?

as long as he can hide away from it you will be fine

 

[JessG]

as long as he can hide away from it you will be fine

I’ll set that up ASAP. I was waiting for hubby to finish building his big cage to use it. But will change it now. I looked in his cage before lights out, I put 7 crickets in earlier can only find 2. I am hoping he ate them. And they aren’t in the plant hiding !!